Halters



1958 e. c STRAWHORN ETAL 2,854,800

HALTERS Filed Sept. 23, 1955 FIG. 3

INVENTORS GORDON C. STRAWHORN EDWARD R. JOHNSON United States Patent M HALTERS Gordon C. Strawhorn and Edward R. Johnson, Brawley, Calif.

Application September 23, 1955, Serial No. 536,124 1 Claim. (Cl. 54-6) The present invention relates generally to halters and more particularly to bitless bridles having means to apply pressure to portions of a horses head.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a bridle for use on a horse not easily controlled by a conventional bridle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bridle which applies a constricting pressure on a horses chin and on the nose rather than by the use of a bit, and which is ideal for use with a hard-mouthed horse or one who objects to a bit or one whose mouth has become sore.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bridle which provides positive control of even an unruly horse without inflicting undue pain or injury.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bridle having adjustability in both size and applied pressure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bridle which is adapted for fabrication from many different materials, so that the choice of material can be according to the dictates of availability and price considerations, the exact sizes and proportions being matters easily determined to suit particular conditions and needs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bridle which is practicable and inexpensive to manufacture.

Finally, it is an object to provide a bridle of the aforementioned character which is simple, safe and convenient to use and which will give generally efficient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claim, and illustrated in the drawings which form a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the bridle in position on a horses head, the head being shown in dash line;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device showing the control rod, connecting bracket, and portions of the nose chain; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective View of a portion of the nose chain, the hanger mounted thereon and a lower end portion of the cheek piece connected thereto.

Referring now to the drawings, the bridle comprises a nose band or chain 12 substantially encircling the lower portion of a horses head at such a position as to bear on the nose or lower portion of the bony structure of the face 16, and comprising a length of chain as best illustrated at 18, in Figure 3, this chain being of the single flat-link pitch type. The links 20 of the chain 18 are interconnected by pins 21, and are removable, thereby allowing adjustment to fit any horse. The ends of the chain 18 are connected on the underside of the horses jaw 22 by means of a bracket 24. The bracket 24 is generally channel shaped, having the sides 26 perpendicular to the general plane of the nose piece 12.

Wings 28 are aflixed to the sides 26, and extend nor- 2,854,800 Patented Oct. 7, 1958 mally outward therefrom. The wings 28 are spaced to allow the insertion of a link 20 therebetween, and are provided with bores 30 in axial alignment and normal to the planes of the wings 28. The ends of the chain 18 are inserted into the space between the wings 28, and maintained therein by means of the pins 21 extending through the bores 30 and the link 20.

The bracket 24 provides a means for pivotally mounting a control rod 32. The control rod 32 has a flattened portion 34 centrally spaced between the sides 26, and this flattened portion has a plurality of vertically spaced bores 35. A single pair of aligned bores is provided in the sides 26, slightly rearwardly of the wings 28, and a pivot pin 36 is inserted to hold thecontrol rod 32 in pivotal relationship with ;the bracket 24. Obviously the control rod can thus be adjusted vertically to secure a variance in leverage and consequent pressure applied. The control rod 32 has a portion 38 extending upwardly a distance from the pivot pin 36, terminating in an offset portion 40 lying approximately parallel to the general plane of the nose piece 12. The offset portion 40 is of very short length and carries a transverse pressure bar 42 rigidly affixed to the end thereof. The pressure bar 42 is in the range of 2"5" in length and is horizontally disposed.

The control rod 32 is also provided with a rearwardly and downwardly extending portion 44, on the end of which are mounted loops 46 to which reins 48 are attached. A tension spring 49 is attached between the bottom of the bracket 24 and the rearwardly extending portion 44 of the control rod 32, for a purpose hereinafter explained.

Support links 50 are provided in the chain 18 as a means to suspend the nose piece 12, the bracket 24, and the control rod 32 in the desired position on the horses head.

Each hanger or support link 50 comprises a link connecting plate 52 of the chain 18 having an upstanding flange 54 at the longitudinal edge of the plate 52 dis-- posed inwardly or toward the other support line, and a loop 56, similar to loops 46, unitary with the upper end of the leg 54 to allow a cheek piece strap 58 to be attached thereto. This is best illustrated in Figure 3, and it will be evident that, when the reins are slackened and the spring 49 releases the tension on the nose piece 12, the outwardly offset relationship of the plate 52 with reference to the cheek piece strap 58 will hold the nose band out of tight frictional contact with the sides of the horses head.

The strap 58 is of a length to pass over the head 14 at a point just behind the ears, and may be adjustable to allow vertical positioning of the nose piece 12.

Another strap 60 is terminally connected to the cheek piece strap 58 below the ears and extends forwardly, around the horses forehead 62, thus preventing the strap 58 from sliding rearwardly.

Pads 64, 66 may be used on the chain 18 and the transverse pressure bar to prevent chafing of the contacted flesh and undue pain to the horse.

A rearward pull of the reins 48 on the control rod 32 pivots the rod 32 about the pivot pin 36, moving the pressure bar 42 forwardly to contact the horses jaw 22, against the action of the spring 49. At the same time, the bracket 24 moves slightly rearwardly pulling the chain 18 tightly about the face 16 and exerting a constricting pressure thereon.

The single flat link pitch chain for use as the nose band since inflexible transversely, thereby maintaining a relatively planar attitude about the nose. When the cheek piece strap 58 is properly adjusted, the forward portion of the nose band 12 will lie across the bony ridge of the 18 is ideally suitable this chain is relatively face '16, and being ofiinfiexible nature, will not drdop to .cause pressure on. the rcartilaginousatissue .below the bony ridge, thereby causing possible injury and impair ment of breathing.

When the tensionl on the reins-48nis lessenedgqthe spring 49 pulls the 'rearwa'rdlyeiitendin'g. portion 4450f the control rod 32 toward the bracket 24', thereby rapidly relieving the pressure of the bar '42 against the horses jaw 22. a r. 3 v It is understoodthat minorevariation fromstherform of the invention disclosed herein. may ;be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification. andzdrawin'g are to he considered as merely illustrative rather than'limiting.

Weclaiimr t v is ,1.

Abridle comprisin agnose band for substantially encii-cling thenoseof a horse; a connecting bracket attached to the ends of saidmnoserband and supported solely by said nose band; a control rod pivotally mounted on said bracket; said control rod having a lower portion extending downwardly and rearwardly of said bracket vf i hm u rein aa ..e.,q 1ia: n a i element tending upwardy from said bracket; and a head stall including cheek piece straps secured to said nose band; said nose band being substantially inflexible in a plane normal to said cheek straps; said bracket comprising upstanding sides and wing portions extending outwardly from said sides; said wing portions being attached to the ends of said nose band only.

References pited in the file of t hispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

